In Bed With The Right

Susan Sontag (1933- 2004) was a writer, critic and activist, one who isn’t thought of (and didn’t think of herself) as conservative. In this episode, your hosts talk with Prof. Merve Emre to think through Sontag’s writing on gender and on the women’s movement. How do Sontag’s leeriness about identity and identification, her ambivalent attitudes to bodies, sex and beauty, and her elitism land in today’s political climate and landscape?

Midge Decter (1927-2022) has often been called the "grandmother of neoconservatism" -- hers was in some ways a pretty classic trajectory, from New Deal liberalism to profound unease with the social movements of the 1960s, to the center of the conservative movement and Republican politics. But unlike most of her fellow neocons, Midge Decter always framed her trajectory quite openly in terms of gender: repulsion from a certain kind of women's liberation, and attraction to a certain kind of masculinity. In this episode, Moira and Adrian delve into the weird, cantankerous world of Midge Decter with the co-hosts of Know Your Enemy, Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell.

Moira and Adrian explore the impact of right-wing contributions to the gay marriage debate, its relevance and persistence, and the challenges it presents to traditional institutions. They discuss the history, perception, and progression of same-sex marriage in the US, as well as the relationship between marriage, religion, and natural law. The podcast also touches on the journey of columnist Maggie Gallagher and the views of legal philosopher Robert George. They explore the concept of complementarity in gay relationships, critique assumptions about sex, and delve into the evolution of marriage and arguments against gay marriage, challenging notions of natural law.

Get a sneak-peek at the all new, upcoming show In Bed With The Right hosted by Adrian Daub and Moira Donegan.